Propeller



Oct. 20, 1936. s. K. SHERWOOD PROPELLER Filed June 4, 1955 I IN VENTOR. I 512535 ICSH'ERH'OOD.

ATTORNEYS I Patented 20, 1936 "UNITED STATES PATENT oFFi'c 2,058,361 1 PROPELLER Starr K. Sherwood, Seattle, Wash.

Application June 4, 1935, Serial No. 24,931

4 Claims. (01.170-165) A further object is to produce a propeller mechanism wherein two propellers are employed so that the current set up by the'first propeller is acted upon by the second propeller, thus giving double efliciency. 5 Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of. the following description.

- In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a vessel having my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a propeller constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view of the propeller shaft and the propellers mounted thereon, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

A ship is ordinarily propelled by a propeller shaft which is driven and upon this propeller shaft is mounted a propeller which rotates in the water, thus propelling the ship. It is my intention toemploy two propellers rotating or revolving in opposite directions and to lead a jet of water to a point adjacent the leading edge of. one

of the propellers, the purpose of which will be later seen.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the.

enclosed in a housing IS. A propellerhub ll is attached to the shaft 6 andhas blades I8. The propeller blades l8 each have trailer 19' formed therein, which in turn communicate with openings 2| formed in the face of the propeller. A pipe 22 connects to a fitting 23 which in turn joins the end of the shaft 6 which is hollowed as shown at 24 and communicates with the ducts Hi. This pipe 22 connects with any suitable source of fluid supply such as the pump 24 (see Fig. 1)

The result of this construction is that when the vessel is under way the propeller blades l8 and 5' l6 rotate in reverse directions due to the gearing arrangement shown in Fig. 3. At the same time water pumped through the pipe 22 enters the hollow portion of the shaft 6 and passes into the ducts |9- andout of the holes 2|. It is a well 10 known fact that a propeller in revolving in the water is ineflicient to a very large extent clue to a suction or vacuum formed at the trailing edge of the propeller. It is, therefore, applicants intention to force jets of water along the face of 15 the propeller-in such a direction as to overcome this vacuum, thus giving the, propeller a very much greater efliciency which is readily accomplished by the use of these jets.

While I have specified and illustrated the use" of propeller blades of ships, which blades set forth my improved construction, nevertheless, it

is to be understood that with certain minor changes applied to the propellers of airplanes greater efliciency. in airplanes can, likewise, be realized. I

Itjis to be understood that the form of my invention' herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In duplex ship propellers of the class described, the combination with a propeller shaft, of differential gear means mounted on said shaft and. capable of driving said propellers in opposite directions, the blades of one of. said propellers having ducts formed in opposite edges thereof, 40 and means for forcing fluid under pressure through said shaft and through the ducts formed in the blades of one of the said propellers.

2. In duplex ship propellers. .of the class described, the combination with a hollow propeller 5 shaft, .rf. gear means mounted on said shaft and capable of driving said propellers in opposite directions, the blades of one of said propellers having ducts formed in opposite edges thereof, and means for pumping fluid under pressure through 50 said hollow shaft and out through the ducts formed in said propeller blades.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a hollow propeller shaft, duplex propellers carried by said shaft, differential gear 55 ejecting jets of fluid therefrom, and means associated with said hollow shaft for forcing fluid under pressln'e from said ducts adapted to cause the vacuum to be broken forwardly oi. the said blades.

4. In a device-oi the class described, duplex propellers, one. of which has ducts iormed in its edges, said ducts extending from the axis of mtation to-the edges or the blades of the propeller,

and means for forcing fluid pressure through said 5 ducts. I

STARR K. SHERWGQD.- 

